An oil tanker carrying diesel faced four external explosions near Dakar, Senegal, leaving the vessel damaged but stable, according to its management. The ship, named Mersin, experienced seawater flooding into its engine room following the blasts. Fortunately, the crew is safe, and no pollution has been reported.
This event marks the third incident in just a few days involving ships linked to Russian petroleum products. Ukrainian security services are believed to be behind two recent attacks on empty tankers in the Black Sea last week. However, it remains unclear who is responsible for all the recent strikes.
Besiktas Shipping, the company managing the Mersin, said it is cooperating with insurance companies and Senegalese authorities to handle the aftermath. The tanker was carrying gasoil and has docked multiple times at Russian ports this year, according to shipping analytics firm Kpler.
Senegal’s port authority confirmed the Mersin has been stabilized after taking on significant water. The ship is now being monitored closely and assisted by tugboats. Efforts are underway to seal the damaged parts of the hull and carefully transfer the cargo. This is done to keep the vessel steady during pumping operations and prevent further damage.
The situation remains under investigation as officials work to understand what triggered the explosions and how to prevent similar incidents in the future.